Thursday, November 25, 2010

Friends of God

James 4:1 10 (NRSV)

A plea for God's grace and human humility

Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures. Adulterers! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you suppose that it is for nothing that the scripture says, "God yearns jealously for the spirit that he has made to dwell in us"? But he gives all the more grace; therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded. Lament and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into dejection. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

DEVOTION

Our love relationship with God is so precious, is it not?

It is an amazing thing that the King of Glory allows us to be in relationship with him through Jesus Christ, and to boldly approach his throne when we have need.

It thrills me that we are invited into the presence of God through prayer and Bible Study. It amazes me that as we read the word we are given the simple instruction to "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you."

See, I may want to draw near to a friend, but she may be unavailable. I may need to draw near to my Senator, but she may be too busy. I may desire to draw near to a president, king, or queen, but they may not wish to receive me.

But, scripture says, that when we wish to draw near to God, God will always draw near to us! We are actually FRIENDS OF GOD.

God wants us to come into his presence. God wants us to cuddle up close. God wants to listen to what we have to say. God loves us more than anything!

If we have need, all we have to do is ask God's will to manifest in our lives. If we have concerns, all we need to do is cast our cares on God, for God cares for us!

Today, I want to invite you to draw near to God, it's the best place you could ever be!

Let's pray: God, right now in the Name of Jesus, draw near to you. I ask you to please forgive me of my sin and fill me with the precious Holy Spirit. Please help me to resist satan, and submit my whole self to you. I pray this in Jesus' Name, Amen!

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

SPECIAL NOTE: Happy Thanksgiving to our American readers and those celebrating abroad!